3Qs: Larger issues in debt-​​limit debate

On Monday, Trea­sury Sec­re­tary Tim­othy Gei­thner told Con­gress the U.S. has reached its debt ceiling — the limit on how much money the gov­ern­ment can borrow. Not only has raising this limit been at times a con­tentious polit­ical issue, it also raises larger issues related to the U.S. economy’s long-​​term health, says Kamran Dad­khah, asso­ciate pro­fessor of eco­nomics at North­eastern University.

What is the impact of the U.S. reaching its debt limit?

When the government has a deficit, it needs to borrow to continue paying its bills and to function. By reaching the debt limit, the government cannot borrow anymore. Given the budget deficit of $1.6 trillion for the current year and $1.1 trillion for 2012, the ceiling has to be raised from the present $14.294 trillion. There is no question the debt limit will be raised, although politicians will haggle over it. Given forecasts of deficit for the coming years, we will revisit this problem in the near future. In the long-term, the huge budget deficit and the ballooning U.S. debt affect the health of the U.S. dollar and U.S. economy. The dollar has been the international currency, and the U.S. has long benefitted from that. It is both a reflection and an instrument of the American economic might. The U.S. cannot go on with such a budget deficit and keep its international position and sustain the dollar as the international currency.

What can be done to reverse course?

Definitely the government needs to rein in its expenditures. Some have suggested raising taxes. I believe the worst thing a government can do is to raise taxes in a slump and before the economy has fully recovered. Indeed, reducing taxes would be beneficial for the deficit reduction; on this I can even borrow from President John F. Kennedy, who suggested lowering taxes to reduce the budget deficit. Once the economy is fully recovered, tax revenues will increase. This is not to deny that we need an overhaul of the tax system to a simpler, more efficient, and more equitable one.

When the U.S. hit its debt limit Monday, the Treasury halted investments into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the Government Securities Investment Fund. What is the future of these types of programs? What about the effect of budget deficit on programs such as Social Security and Medicare, and how might the public react?

Trea­sury Sec­re­tary Gei­thner has taken these accounting mea­sures to keep the gov­ern­ment run­ning until August 2. Once the debt ceiling is raised, the funds will be made whole. These are com­par­a­tively small funds, and fed­eral employees would not be affected by this tem­po­rary action. The issue of Social Secu­rity and Medicare, how­ever, is quite serious. Steps should be taken to ensure their long-​​term health. The age of retire­ment might have to be increased. Changes to these pro­grams may upset the elderly because they’ve paid for these pro­grams already, as well as younger people, who may feel like they’re car­rying the burden of others with nothing in return. There has to be greater national dis­cus­sion on this.

About the Writer

Greg St. Martin is the senior editor for news@Northeastern. He joined Northeastern in March 2010 after working at a Boston newspaper for six years. Outside the office, he enjoys playing basketball, basking in the glory of finding great parking spots, and listening to the comic genius of Steven Wright. Follow on Twitter: @gstmartinNU

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